New Meditation of the Month is HERE.
Several of the people I admire most––including some beloved yoga teachers and transformation leaders-–have shared this piece of heartfelt advice with me.
Some in sublime yoga classes.
Others in crisis-driven heart to hearts.
And yet another in one of her books (we don’t actually know each other but we do have the same literary agent.)
Namely, this Zen-like aphorism, the source of which is unknown:
“How you do anything is how you do everything.”
And…each time I think (but rarely say aloud):
“That makes absolutely no sense.”
As with all of us, there are things I do very well and things I do rather badly.
There are some realms where I have an innate aptitude and other arenas where I’m not at all gifted.
Most significant, however, is my attitude and mindset.
As with all of us, there are subjects where I am passionately engaged and others where I’m the King of Avoidance.
More and more, I think the opposite philosophy is infinitely more useful.
In other words, start with the things you do well, the ones you take real pride in…
Then take those characteristics and then apply them in other areas of your life.
I began exploring this practice several years ago via a wise friend.
Specifically, they pointed out that the way I approached my financial life was absolutely different than the way I hosted parties.
I loved (and still do) entertaining small groups as well as a few larger parties each year.
Whether it was planning a welcome back dinner for a friend who’d been traveling or hosting 75 guests for Belle’s birthday (mostly her friends), I thrived on the details.
I was deeply invested creatively and fully enrolled.
Alternatively, I used to go to outrageous lengths to avoid the topic of my financial life entirely.
When it came to looking at money matters, I avoided things as long as I could.
When forced to examine my situation, as though facing a firing squad, I insisted on a blindfold.
My approach to each topic was so different, it was as though an entirely different person was involved.
The way I did one thing was absolutely NOT the way I did everything.
And yet…
What if it were possible to approach financial matters with just a fraction of the creativity and playfulness I brought to hosting a dinner party?
Was it possible to find some commonalities, some places were I could translate my skills?
Could I translate excellent in one arena into mere adequacy in another?
Well, several books and courses and over 50,000 students later…ultimately I found that I absolutely could.
The theme of this month’s new meditation is PRIDE and not just because it’s LGBTQA Awareness Month.
(Although I do have more things to share about that kind of Pride ahead, including our June 9th FB Live at 4pm EST withJeffrey Marsh.)
Right now, as we kick off Pride month, I’m simply inviting you to find an area of your life in which you excel, something in which you deservedly take pride.
Identify what skills and gifts you have there, and most importantly what your mindset is around the topic, and bring all of that to an area you’re currently struggling with.
For example…
If you’re a great birdwatcher, how can that level of patience and specificity be applied to your drab love life?
Or if you’re a brilliant pianist, how can you bring that commitment to technique and creative expression to asking for the raise you know you deserve?
Successes––especially our own––always leave clues.
I warmly invite you to begin this practice of self-appreciation and translation of your skills.
Together, let’s rewrite that less-than-true proverb in a way that can really serve us:
Find the thing you do best…
and let that be the way you do everything!
Namaste for Now,
Newest Meditation is HERE
And if you want a few gentle reminders for future Book Clubs,
just click HERE.
